Is it really that super unrealistic Kirks rank jump...
- Thread starter Yevetha
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Napoleon also studied extensively from quite a young age. At 9 he entered a military school at Brienne-le-Château, then at 14 he won a scholarship to an elite military academy in Paris, École Militaire. He basically had been studying his entire life for a career in the military.
Kirk, from what the movie shows us, hung out in bars and got in fights before deciding to join Starfleet at 22. He was there for three years before the incident with Nero and jumping rank to captain.
Kirk, from what the movie shows us, hung out in bars and got in fights before deciding to join Starfleet at 22. He was there for three years before the incident with Nero and jumping rank to captain.
Or, would he take full command the day after saving France from annihilation and saving the ruling body of an allied country? Also, would Napoleon's mentor and superior be on hand to give a glowing recommendation right after saving France?
With that said, I do think it's unrealistic for Kirk to get such a large jump (not to mention that those above feats are pretty contrived), but even one or two ranks below Captain would have been fine for me. If Kirk MUST be captain by the end of the movie by studio decree, I would have preferred a flashforward by a couple years. I also don't think it's unrealistic for him to have the rank of Lt right out of the Academy either, and that's fairly high on the command chain.
I didn't mind Kirk's jump in rank, I just thought going from Cadet straight to Captain was a little too much. If he'd gone from Lieutenant to Captain I would have liked it better. They could have jumped ahead a couple more years instead of just three, and have Kirk as a Lieutenant back at Academy for Command School. Bones could have been an instructor at the Academy before getting roped into space duty by the emergency (and then on a more permanent basis by Kirk).
It's not exactly something I lose any sleep over, and usually I'm pretty good about ignoring silly things in movies, but that one was a little too silly for me. Oh well, c'est la vie, as they say.
It's not exactly something I lose any sleep over, and usually I'm pretty good about ignoring silly things in movies, but that one was a little too silly for me. Oh well, c'est la vie, as they say.
^Erm... nuKirk was a lieutenant (as was Uhura). Look at the transporter console when they're beaming him and Sulu up from Vulcan - it reads "LT. J. KIRK"
But wasn't he referred to as Cadet multiple times in dialogue? That trumps a probable production error on a computer screen, IMO. Graduating from a four-year academy in three years is very doable, but graduating and then accruing the requisite time-in-grade to be promoted at least once in three years is much less so.
Yes, it's super duper unrealistic.
No, I don't care. (This time.)
No, I don't care. (This time.)
He was a cadet with the rank of lieutenant. Kirk Prime also held that rank before graduating. Best of the best of the best, and all that.
Uhura was called "Lieutenant" and then "Cadet" during the movie. "Cadet" is a status. "Lieutenant" is a rank.
Uhura was called "Lieutenant" and then "Cadet" during the movie. "Cadet" is a status. "Lieutenant" is a rank.
Giving him a medal at the end - fine. Finishing up with a boast that he'd be returning as captain some day - fine. Fast forwarding a couple of years as he steps onto the bridge - perfect.
The rapid promotion is one of the many things that are so silly they make this movie feel more like a children's movie. If you want to make children's movies that's fine but I would view it as a step down for the franchise.
The rapid promotion is one of the many things that are so silly they make this movie feel more like a children's movie. If you want to make children's movies that's fine but I would view it as a step down for the franchise.
Did you really find stuff like the reset button at the end of STIV any more believable?
Yes and getting an Enterprise to command, it wasn't really a reset. Kirk redeemed himself, but still had years and years of experience enough to command. To be demoted to Captain and possibly end up the Admiraltie's lapdog. Plus the missions after the Whale incident, might well have been made by those with grudges, to try and get rid of such a loose cannon. The ship they gave him (possibly an old one, renamed from what it had been before) turned out to be a bit of a joke too. So he was still punished, in a way.
Exactly. It's just as unbelievable as this.
Regaining command in TMP was far more believable than either.
Also, assuming command in TWOK was fine. Hijacking the Enterprise in TSFS was also War and Peace compared to the demotion in TVH.
Engage at ludicrous speed!
He stole a ship, blew it up, had his officers assault police, sabotage another starship, he disobeyed direct orders, touched off an intergalactic incident with the Klingons....
And at the end, but for an extra "-A" painted on the hull, it's like films II, III and IV never even happened.
They're both preposterous happy endings at the expense of common sense. Such is the world of movies.
Yes there have always been silly moments in Trek but puttng Kirk in charge of a brand new starship after only one mission really does reach new heights for me! It's about on par with Clint Eastwood's character in the Rookie being promoted after murdering a suspect in front of dozens of witnesses and CCTV using a bullet that had the suspect's name carved into it. Even Frank Drebin could have secured a conviction with that evdence.
IIRC, and in addition to KingDaniel's posts, I believe Saavik and nuKirk were both also cadets with the rank of LT as well.
Nonsense. Drebin has the highest kill rate on the force, and also the highest kill rate of suspects on the force.
Yevetha
Commodore
Probably the San Fransico Academy is Starfleet educational complex considering how many people might be around back then they probably have departments working the students with the most potential and less elite departments.
He was probably part of some sort of ultraelite Red Squad unit.
They probably get their ranks quicker.
Dont people in special forces get trained to take over if their officer is killed?
They might do something similar with elite cadets
He was probably part of some sort of ultraelite Red Squad unit.
They probably get their ranks quicker.
Dont people in special forces get trained to take over if their officer is killed?
They might do something similar with elite cadets
Considering the long history of the character, and how much he has proven himself time and time again, it's believable enough. It's much more believable than making a kid who's barely old enough to drink, who has shown himself to be immature numerous times, into a captain a few days into his career.
